Campaign to save Powys hospital beds passes 3,500 signatures as public meetings announced

The campaign against proposed cuts to community hospitals across Powys has passed a major milestone, with more than 3,500 people signing a petition calling on Powys Teaching Health Board to abandon proposals that could strip inpatient services from all but two community hospitals in the county.

The petition has gathered significant support both online and at the Royal Welsh Show, where hundreds of local residents stopped to share their concerns about the future of healthcare in Powys.

The petition, started by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, can be signed here: https://www.libdems.wales/powyshospitals

The Party is hoping to hit 5,000 signatures over the summer ahead of the next stage of the process by Powys Teaching Health Board and in time for the return of the Senedd after summer recess.

The party has also confirmed the first two public meetings of what will be a county-wide campaign to give residents the opportunity to hear more about the proposals, ask questions and discuss how communities can respond.

The first meetings will take place on Tuesday, August 18, Ystradgynlais Welfare Hall, with David Chadwick MP, Jane Dodds MS and Councillor Susan Grounds and on Wednesday, August 19, at 7.00pm, Strand Hall, Builth Wells, with David Chadwick MP and Jane Dodds MS.

Further public meetings across Powys will be announced in the coming weeks.

The campaign follows reports that Powys Teaching Health Board is considering options that could see inpatient beds removed from all but two community hospitals in Powys, concentrating inpatient services in Brecon and Newtown. While no final decisions have been made, the Liberal Democrats argue that removing inpatient wards from hospitals across the county would amount to hospital closures in all but name and would leave rural communities with even poorer access to healthcare and worsen the social care crisis in local communities.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said: "The response from local people has been extraordinary. Passing 3,500 signatures in such a short space of time shows just how strongly communities across Powys feel about protecting their local hospitals.

"The conversations I've had at the Royal Welsh Show and with residents across the county have sent one clear message: people will not quietly accept another downgrade of healthcare in rural Wales.

"This campaign is only just beginning. We want to hear directly from local people at our public meetings, answer their questions and work together to send the strongest possible message to the Health Board and the Plaid Cymru Welsh Government that these proposals must not go ahead."

Adding her comments Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Member for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Jane Dodds said: "Our community hospitals are at the heart of healthcare in Powys, and the strength of feeling we've seen over the past few days reflects just how important they are to local people.

"I want to thank everyone who has already signed our petition or spoken to us at the Royal Welsh Show. Your support is helping to build a powerful campaign that cannot be ignored.

"There is still time to influence the outcome. I would encourage everyone who is concerned about the future of our local hospitals to come along to one of our public meetings, have their say and join us in standing up for healthcare in Powys."

The petition, started by the Welsh Liberal Democrats can be signed here https://www.libdems.wales/powyshospitals